Family and consumer sciences teachers at the postsecondary level design and deliver courses in nutrition, family dynamics, personal finance, and related topics. You'll need a doctoral degree and a strong foundation in both your subject matter and teaching methods.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You teach college students about family relationships, consumer economics, nutrition, and practical life skills. Your work involves planning curricula, delivering lectures and hands-on instruction, grading assignments, and staying current with developments in your field. You'll spend time getting information from research and professional sources, organizing course materials, and using computers for instruction and record-keeping. You also advise students, serve on committees, and may conduct research or publish in your discipline.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $75,870 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 200 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a doctoral degree in family and consumer sciences or a closely related field. This typically follows a bachelor's degree and master's degree, representing extensive preparation. Your studies will emphasize education and training theory, English language proficiency, psychology, and administration. Many programs include teaching assistantships or internships that let you gain classroom experience while completing your degree. Strong writing and speaking skills are essential throughout your preparation.
Most paths to this career involve completing a master's degree before pursuing a doctorate. If you're deciding between different doctoral programs or timing your education, Pathly can map the family and consumer science teacher, postsecondary path that fits you with your counselor to map out a realistic timeline and next steps.
You do not need a license to work as a family and consumer science teacher, postsecondary, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to this work if you enjoy helping others learn and develop. You value direct interaction with students and take satisfaction in supporting their growth and success.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).